Sun Tan Parlors and Skin Cancer
Suntan parlors are still poorly regulated, poorly understood, and full of misrepresentations to promote their industry. K, a patient at the offices of MetropolitanMD for several years, went to a suntan salon several weeks ago. She likes to go to suntan parlors because she thinks she looks healthier with a bronzed skin color. On that day she felt some burning of her right ear, right neck, and right shoulder after the treatment. She called an employee to examine the lamps to which she had been exposed and they found one of the lamps was cracked. The next morning she had blisters over her right ear, right neck, and right shoulder and intense redness and pain. With medical care the burn subsided over the next week. The suntan salon gave her coupons for free treatments in the future. I wonder how successful they would be if they advertised that patrons could come to their booths to get cancer and if they get cancer they could get coupons for free treatments to get more cancer!
The suntan industry has long been guilty of misrepresentations and outright lies. The National Institute of Health has noted that after UVA suntan treatments changes in the white blood cell count of helper to suppressor cells reflects the same defective reversals as that found in HIV patients. This got something like a page 12 notation in the Chicago Tribune and little attention after that. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and the 7th leading cancer killer. The incidence increases every year.
This year, with the help of what appears to be several misguided medical groups, the suntan industry is promoting tans to treat vitamin D deficiency - a disease which is not normally known to exist in the industrialized world! These groups cite associations with diseases that have yet to be proven, such a colon cancer. Think about it. How many people with colon cancer have worn red sweaters. Might we infer that red sweaters cause or at least predispose one to colon cancer? Shall we conclude that an arbitrary level of vitamin D which is not found normally in humans is preferable to skin cancer? Shall we conclude that 1/2 truths are better than no truths so we should change our habits to accommodate the marketing objectives of a private industry?
And while we are at it, may we remember that the love affair with sun tans is less than 100 years old compared to the millenia of human existence where the advantages of Darwinian selection determined skin color? I suggest we all do ourselves a favor: enjoy the sun for its healthy benefits (chiefly mental) and wear hats, shirts and shorts this summer. As for suntan parlors: let's throw them in with General Motors.
Edward B. Lack MD www.metroplitanmds.com
The suntan industry has long been guilty of misrepresentations and outright lies. The National Institute of Health has noted that after UVA suntan treatments changes in the white blood cell count of helper to suppressor cells reflects the same defective reversals as that found in HIV patients. This got something like a page 12 notation in the Chicago Tribune and little attention after that. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and the 7th leading cancer killer. The incidence increases every year.
This year, with the help of what appears to be several misguided medical groups, the suntan industry is promoting tans to treat vitamin D deficiency - a disease which is not normally known to exist in the industrialized world! These groups cite associations with diseases that have yet to be proven, such a colon cancer. Think about it. How many people with colon cancer have worn red sweaters. Might we infer that red sweaters cause or at least predispose one to colon cancer? Shall we conclude that an arbitrary level of vitamin D which is not found normally in humans is preferable to skin cancer? Shall we conclude that 1/2 truths are better than no truths so we should change our habits to accommodate the marketing objectives of a private industry?
And while we are at it, may we remember that the love affair with sun tans is less than 100 years old compared to the millenia of human existence where the advantages of Darwinian selection determined skin color? I suggest we all do ourselves a favor: enjoy the sun for its healthy benefits (chiefly mental) and wear hats, shirts and shorts this summer. As for suntan parlors: let's throw them in with General Motors.
Edward B. Lack MD www.metroplitanmds.com
Labels: skin cancer, sun tans
posted by Edward Lack MD at 12:35 PM
2 Comments:
I appreciate you highlighting (no pun intended) the risks associated with Shake-N-Bake tans. As well as your commentary on the tanning lobbyists.
However, it would be nice to know of some alternatives since some people may be unwillingly to give up their faux tans, regardless of the long term consequences (just like smokers are unwilling to give up their cancer sticks).
Also, as you may know through your Swedish connection, sun tanning booths are extremely popular in Denmark and Sweden. It would be nice to bring this information to them.
There are many types of skin cancer. Malignant Melanoma is very dangerous one. It is a type of cancer which originates on skin. It can appear as a mole. It is even found in younger age bracket. It appears in the leg for females and for males, it is found on chest or back area. Those who have dark skin tone, are less likely to develop melanoma. Immediately diagnosing is very important, else it can worsen the situation. If anyone observes symptoms of it, should consult to doctor immediately.
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